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Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and

I would like to understand the modifier rule that is being tested with this question. Also I am interested to know why B is wrong ?

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

This question is all about Noun Modifiers

If we recall the rules : The touch principle- the modifier must touch the noun unless in few exceptional cases..

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,carefully coordinating them is awkward, and irregular structure i must say (the use of tenses )(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter the use of present progressive tense coordinating is wrong whilst using simple past in 'capitalized' in the next part of the sentencethis structure is making it sound as if while coordinating one thing the capitalized on other but the meaning conveyed must be - she coordinated, capitalized(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter as explained above, right tense, touch rule of noun modifier is also satisfied(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrationsuse of with is wrong, she didn't coordinate with her narratives, she coordinated her narratives with her illustrations(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and use of them is incorrect

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and

I would like to understand the modifier rule that is being tested with this question. Also I am interested to know why B is wrong ?

Hi Umesh,

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

Notice the placement of "verb-ing" modifier "coordinating". This modifier is certainly acting as a noun modifier here and not as a clause modifier. So it should modify the preceding noun entity. In this case, it is book illustrations. But we know that that the action of coordinating has been done by Potter. Hence, the verb-ing modifier "coordinating" must be placed closer to Potter. The way the original sentence is written, coordinating cannot jump over "in her book illustrations".

Choice B repeats the same error. Placement of "coordinating" is such that it fails to refer to Potter.

Compare these two choice to the correct answer choice C that clearly conveys the intended meaning of the sentence.

The usage of Verb-ing Modifiers has been covered in excruciating details in the "Modifiers - Verb-ing" Concept in the Level 1 Preview Concepts. This section is available for free. Just login to e-gmat.com, register for free and learn the concept.You can also go through our one of the most appreciated articles on the same topic by clicking at the link below:usage-of-verb-ing-modifiers-135220.html

Hope this helps. Thanks.Shraddha _________________

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In choice A why is coordinating not referring to Potter. The prep phrase in her book illustrations is in comma pair so in that case, why cant we say coordinating refers to Potter?Thanks

egmat wrote:

umeshpatil wrote:

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and

I would like to understand the modifier rule that is being tested with this question. Also I am interested to know why B is wrong ?

Hi Umesh,

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

Notice the placement of "verb-ing" modifier "coordinating". This modifier is certainly acting as a noun modifier here and not as a clause modifier. So it should modify the preceding noun entity. In this case, it is book illustrations. But we know that that the action of coordinating has been done by Potter. Hence, the verb-ing modifier "coordinating" must be placed closer to Potter. The way the original sentence is written, coordinating cannot jump over "in her book illustrations".

Choice B repeats the same error. Placement of "coordinating" is such that it fails to refer to Potter.

Compare these two choice to the correct answer choice C that clearly conveys the intended meaning of the sentence.

The usage of Verb-ing Modifiers has been covered in excruciating details in the "Modifiers - Verb-ing" Concept in the Level 1 Preview Concepts. This section is available for free. Just login to e-gmat.com, register for free and learn the concept.You can also go through our one of the most appreciated articles on the same topic by clicking at the link below:usage-of-verb-ing-modifiers-135220.html

A handy thing to remember is that GMAT does not like two modifiers "back to back", since GMAT considers this as too much separation between the subject and the main verb.

In A, "in her book illustrations" and "carefully coordinating them with her narratives" are both (at least intended to be) modifying "Beatrix Potter", and the main verb "capitalized" comes only after these two modifiers. Not a great construct.

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and

I would like to understand the modifier rule that is being tested with this question. Also I am interested to know why B is wrong ?

Hi Umesh,

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

Notice the placement of "verb-ing" modifier "coordinating". This modifier is certainly acting as a noun modifier here and not as a clause modifier. So it should modify the preceding noun entity. In this case, it is book illustrations. But we know that that the action of coordinating has been done by Potter. Hence, the verb-ing modifier "coordinating" must be placed closer to Potter. The way the original sentence is written, coordinating cannot jump over "in her book illustrations".

Choice B repeats the same error. Placement of "coordinating" is such that it fails to refer to Potter.

Compare these two choice to the correct answer choice C that clearly conveys the intended meaning of the sentence.

The usage of Verb-ing Modifiers has been covered in excruciating details in the "Modifiers - Verb-ing" Concept in the Level 1 Preview Concepts. This section is available for free. Just login to e-gmat.com, register for free and learn the concept.You can also go through our one of the most appreciated articles on the same topic by clicking at the link below:usage-of-verb-ing-modifiers-135220.html

Hope this helps. Thanks.Shraddha

Shraddha,I'm completely lost in this...

Can you please share the detail meaning and error analysis for this question..It would have been really helpful then...

I will be happy to provide detailed response to this question, but before that I would like to see your thought process for this one. This will help me pin point the gaps in your application of concepts and process. _________________

Aiming to score 760+ on the GMAT? Attend our free webinars to learn how to:

[*] Master Number Properties[*] Ace Critical Reasoning

The webinars will start at 7 AM PST on the 11th and 12th of July, 2015.

I will be happy to provide detailed response to this question, but before that I would like to see your thought process for this one. This will help me pin point the gaps in your application of concepts and process.

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and

Per the question and what I understood- option B appears correct to me as 'verb-ing' modifier 'coordinating ' modifies the subject of the following clause i.e. modifies Beatrix Potter (and also the 'verb-ing' modifier 'coordinating' is placed correctly in the beginning of a clause followed by a comma.

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

Let’s first understand the meaning of the original sentence. 1. Beatrix Potter (BP) carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives2. BP capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world in her book illustrations.

Now let’s figure out the errors in the original sentence.BP, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating... - The phrase "in her book illustrations" is separated by a comma pair, so for all intents and purposes, this is an additional part of sentence that is connected to the sentence using this comma pair. So let’s ignore this part for a while for our analysis of modifiers.

BP carefully coordinating...Now the verb-ing modifier appears to modify BP. And this modification appears to be ok. Now let’s look at the pronoun “them”. We will check the sentence by replacing 'them' with its antecedent - book illustrations:

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives...

Notice how "her book illustrations" is repeated, making the sentence non-sensical. It now implies that BP carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations.

Furthermore, let’s now discuss the role of “in her book illustrations”. What does this prepositional phrase modifier modify? Logically it should modify the verb “capitalized” but its placement and usage is such that it appears to modify the action represented by the verb-ing “coordinating”.

So this is what is wrong with choice A.

Now let’s move to choice B:In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter…This choice also has same pronoun issue as choice A does. If I were to write this choice without the use of pronoun “them”, this is how I would do it:Carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations, Beatrix Potter….So overall, it’s the use of “them” that makes this sentence non-sensical since it ends up implying that BP coordinated her book illustrations in her book illustrations.

Choice C corrects this issue:In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix PotterIn this choice, the pronoun is no longer there. Also, the prepositional phrase “in her book illustrations” correctly modifies the action “capitalized”.

Let me know if this helps.

Regards,Payal _________________

Aiming to score 760+ on the GMAT? Attend our free webinars to learn how to:

[*] Master Number Properties[*] Ace Critical Reasoning

The webinars will start at 7 AM PST on the 11th and 12th of July, 2015.

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

Let’s first understand the meaning of the original sentence. 1. Beatrix Potter (BP) carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives2. BP capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world in her book illustrations.

Now let’s figure out the errors in the original sentence.BP, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating... - The phrase "in her book illustrations" is separated by a comma pair, so for all intents and purposes, this is an additional part of sentence that is connected to the sentence using this comma pair. So let’s ignore this part for a while for our analysis of modifiers.

BP carefully coordinating...Now the verb-ing modifier appears to modify BP. And this modification appears to be ok. Now let’s look at the pronoun “them”. We will check the sentence by replacing 'them' with its antecedent - book illustrations:

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives...

Notice how "her book illustrations" is repeated, making the sentence non-sensical. It now implies that BP carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations.

Furthermore, let’s now discuss the role of “in her book illustrations”. What does this prepositional phrase modifier modify? Logically it should modify the verb “capitalized” but its placement and usage is such that it appears to modify the action represented by the verb-ing “coordinating”.

So this is what is wrong with choice A.

Now let’s move to choice B:In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter…This choice also has same pronoun issue as choice A does. If I were to write this choice without the use of pronoun “them”, this is how I would do it:Carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations, Beatrix Potter….So overall, it’s the use of “them” that makes this sentence non-sensical since it ends up implying that BP coordinated her book illustrations in her book illustrations.

Choice C corrects this issue:In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix PotterIn this choice, the pronoun is no longer there. Also, the prepositional phrase “in her book illustrations” correctly modifies the action “capitalized”.

Let me know if this helps.

Regards,Payal

Hello Payal,Can you please break option E and help us understand the error in E)(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and

BP1) Carefully coordinated 2) Capitalized

Both can be emphasized right ? Is it always that using them is wrong ?

Both can be emphasized right ? Is it always that using them is wrong ?

Apart from the incorrect sentence construction (and usage of "them"), the other main issue with E is meaning. As you pointed out, the two verbs introduce a list of actions:1) coordinated AND 2) capitalized.However, the meaning of the sentence is such that these two actions should act as cause and effect and not be made parallel. Essentially, the logical meaning should be that BP capitalized (effect) because she coordinated (cause) ....

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

Let’s first understand the meaning of the original sentence. 1. Beatrix Potter (BP) carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives2. BP capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world in her book illustrations.

Now let’s figure out the errors in the original sentence.BP, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating... - The phrase "in her book illustrations" is separated by a comma pair, so for all intents and purposes, this is an additional part of sentence that is connected to the sentence using this comma pair. So let’s ignore this part for a while for our analysis of modifiers.

BP carefully coordinating...Now the verb-ing modifier appears to modify BP. And this modification appears to be ok. Now let’s look at the pronoun “them”. We will check the sentence by replacing 'them' with its antecedent - book illustrations:

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives...

Notice how "her book illustrations" is repeated, making the sentence non-sensical. It now implies that BP carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations.

Furthermore, let’s now discuss the role of “in her book illustrations”. What does this prepositional phrase modifier modify? Logically it should modify the verb “capitalized” but its placement and usage is such that it appears to modify the action represented by the verb-ing “coordinating”.

So this is what is wrong with choice A.

Now let’s move to choice B:In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter…This choice also has same pronoun issue as choice A does. If I were to write this choice without the use of pronoun “them”, this is how I would do it:Carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations, Beatrix Potter….So overall, it’s the use of “them” that makes this sentence non-sensical since it ends up implying that BP coordinated her book illustrations in her book illustrations.

Choice C corrects this issue:In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix PotterIn this choice, the pronoun is no longer there. Also, the prepositional phrase “in her book illustrations” correctly modifies the action “capitalized”.

Glad that it helped...Oh yes, this is definitely a 700+ level question. Debayan, there isn't a new approach that needs to be followed for 700+ level questions. As long as you approach SC in a consistent manner, focusing on the meaning and the errors of the original sentence before reviewing the choices, you will do well. In this one as well, you had to first understand the intended meaning of the original choice. Then determine the errors. In terms of errors pronoun and modifier were a problem. Now after you realized that you needed to look at the choices and eliminate the choices that contained similar errors. And then see if the remaining choices introduced some new errors. Finally get to your correct answer. Sorry for not being able to provide any magic bullet. Consistency, hard work, and practice is the key!!

Regards,Payal _________________

Aiming to score 760+ on the GMAT? Attend our free webinars to learn how to:

[*] Master Number Properties[*] Ace Critical Reasoning

The webinars will start at 7 AM PST on the 11th and 12th of July, 2015.

Glad that it helped...Oh yes, this is definitely a 700+ level question. Debayan, there isn't a new approach that needs to be followed for 700+ level questions. As long as you approach SC in a consistent manner, focusing on the meaning and the errors of the original sentence before reviewing the choices, you will do well. In this one as well, you had to first understand the intended meaning of the original choice. Then determine the errors. In terms of errors pronoun and modifier were a problem. Now after you realized that you needed to look at the choices and eliminate the choices that contained similar errors. And then see if the remaining choices introduced some new errors. Finally get to your correct answer. Sorry for not being able to provide any magic bullet. Consistency, hard work, and practice is the key!!

Regards,Payal

Thanks Payal and yup..you're right again as above...so per your advice, it would be great if you can come up with more of this type of 700+ questions for practice with the challenging ones:)

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

Let’s first understand the meaning of the original sentence. 1. Beatrix Potter (BP) carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives2. BP capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world in her book illustrations.

Now let’s figure out the errors in the original sentence.BP, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating... - The phrase "in her book illustrations" is separated by a comma pair, so for all intents and purposes, this is an additional part of sentence that is connected to the sentence using this comma pair. So let’s ignore this part for a while for our analysis of modifiers.

BP carefully coordinating...Now the verb-ing modifier appears to modify BP. And this modification appears to be ok. Now let’s look at the pronoun “them”. We will check the sentence by replacing 'them' with its antecedent - book illustrations:

Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives...

Notice how "her book illustrations" is repeated, making the sentence non-sensical. It now implies that BP carefully coordinated her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations.

Furthermore, let’s now discuss the role of “in her book illustrations”. What does this prepositional phrase modifier modify? Logically it should modify the verb “capitalized” but its placement and usage is such that it appears to modify the action represented by the verb-ing “coordinating”.

So this is what is wrong with choice A.

Now let’s move to choice B:In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter…This choice also has same pronoun issue as choice A does. If I were to write this choice without the use of pronoun “them”, this is how I would do it:Carefully coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives in her book illustrations, Beatrix Potter….So overall, it’s the use of “them” that makes this sentence non-sensical since it ends up implying that BP coordinated her book illustrations in her book illustrations.

Choice C corrects this issue:In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix PotterIn this choice, the pronoun is no longer there. Also, the prepositional phrase “in her book illustrations” correctly modifies the action “capitalized”.

Let me know if this helps.

Regards,Payal

Hi Payal,

For A and B to be correct, must one use such construction ? --> Coordinating her book illustrations with her narratives, BP ...... _________________

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